Itzaziam takes $73,500 series final at Yonkers

Itzaziam (Pat Berry) closed relentlessly to pick of odds-on Bambino Glide (Dan Dube) Tuesday night, winning the $73,500 final of the Raceway/Standardbred Owners Association of New York Bonus Trotting Series.

Uninvolved early from post position 3, Itzaziam saw Wisenheimer (Yannick Gingras) and 93-1 Swishnflick (Larry Stalbaum) both be put in the game early. Meanwhile, 1-4 fave Bambino Glide found himself parked two turns, finally getting the lead between a 28-second opening quarter-mile and a 57-flat intermission. He continued his advantage in and out of the 1:26.3 three-quarters, with Itzaziam a seemingly-uninvolved sixth from third-over.

However, early troubles getting the lead would bit the favorite late. Itzaziam made up nearly five lengths through the rainy lane, getting to Bambino Glide by a half-length in 1:57. Swishnflick nipped Wisenheimer for third, with Rock of Cashel (Jeff Gregory) grabbing the final pay envelope.

For Itzaziam, a 6-year-old Harry's Star Ranger gelding co-owned by his driver & James Craparotta and trained by Frank Scamporino Jr., he returned $32.80 (fifth choice) for his sixth win (third consecutive) in a dozen seasonal starts. The exacta paid $65.50, the triple returned $1,466 and the superfecta paid $3,676.

"I was planning on leaving with him, but everyone else seemed to be leaving,” Berry said. "You can't be too aggressive with him early, because he gets hot.

"Early on, I thought we had a shot,” Berry said. "At the three-quarters, I thought I'd be lucky to get third because there was a lot of traffic, but he just kept going.”

A $30,000 series consolation was won by Monroe County (George Brennan, $3.50) in 1:57.2. (Yonkers)